Earth Day 2021

What Is Earth Day?

Earth Day began in 1970. It was created by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson. It is celebrated every year on April 22 with the intention of raising awareness about pollution and taking care of the environment by reducing, reusing, and recycling resources.

What are some Earth Day activities? You can make Earth Day every day by making small lifestyle choices which will bring about a huge impact. This could include:

. Use reusable water bottles and less plastic water bottles

. Buy second-hand to reuse things like furniture, clothes, toys and books

. Look to support organizations that use Earth friendly manufacturing practices

. Abide by recycling guidelines in your community and recycle paper, metals and plastics.

Sometimes people confuse Arbor Day and Earth Day They represent two different, but very important themes. Established in Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April every year. This holiday was proposed originally by Nebraska newspaper editor-turned-senator J. Sterling Morton, when he, along with other settlers from the East Coast, noticed the territory’s lacking tree population.

The idea of Arbor Day caught on and today it is celebrated simply by planting trees and showing appreciation for the environment. People participate in Arbor Day activities by planting a tree and also by supporting companies with tree-planting initiatives. Both Earth Day and Arbor Day are globally recognized but Earth Day is observed in many other countries as well.

Children learn about Earth Day beginning in preschool. These lessons continue with them and hopefully will encourage them to be more “earth-conscious” as they grow up. Both Earth Day and Arbor Day are globally recognized but Earth Day is observed in more countries, despite being the younger holiday by nearly 100 years!

On the very first Earth Day which fell on a school day, students came together and planted flowers, committed to recycling and protested pollution. Teachers continue to celebrate Earth Day each year by learning about the earth, how to save our planet, and teaching children how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Some activities to do with children to help them understand Earth Day:

1. Go to a local park and pick up trash together.

When your children see you involved in cleaning the earth, they will want to follow your lead. This type of activity will stay with them, and hopefully, they will continue it with their own children.

2. Show your children how you recycle products weekly.

Have them help sort (or give them a job to do this if they are older) and recognize what products you recycle each week. Showing your diligence will make them more aware of the positive outcomes gained by recycling.

3. Show products being reused.

Whether you donate old furniture, books and clothes or you go to tag sales to find something special to reuse, this type of action will show them the importance of not throwing things away completely when we are done using them. This is also a perfect time to show them the benefits of giving to others less fortunate.

4. Reuse items to show less garbage.

Use refillable cups whenever you can, reuse plastic bags instead of throwing them out and always opt for paper bags or reusable bags when shopping.

Some great books to read to your child about Earth Day:

. I Am Earth by Rebecca and James McDonald

. The Earth Book by Todd Park

. Earth Day Every Day by Lisa Bullard

. Thank You Earth by April Pulley Sayre

There are so many to choose from and children love learning about the earth and participating in cleaning up. Also, check out Earth Day Activities for children on my TeachersPayTeachers Store. Let us continue to show appreciation for our Earth on Earth Day and throughout the year. We should make this year even more important because we missed the 50th anniversary last April during lockdown.

Love the earth and it will give us a home for a long time.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media and send it to someone you think will like it too! Please check out my blog, Elly Elementary (https://ellyelementary.wordpress.com), for more fun activities to do with kids.